BURSTU.S. lawmakers and other prominent figures honored Pope Francis’s legacy in an outpouring of heartfelt tributes on Monday.
President Trump directed all federal and state flags to fly at half-staff on Monday to honor Francis, who died earlier that morning at 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
“He was a good man; he worked hard; he loved the world. And it’s an honor to do that,” Trump said, flanked by first lady Melania Trump and the White House Easter Bunny.
Other members of the administration remarked on Francis’s death, including Vice President Vance, who noted the news comes within a day of his meeting with the pope at the Vatican.
“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” Vance wrote on the social platform X.
“But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul,” he continued, linking to remarks from March 2020, when the pontiff urged followers to turn to faith to provide strength and “courage to embrace all the hardships of the present time.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that he is “saddened” to hear news of Francis’s death, adding, “We unite in prayer with Catholics worldwide for the repose of the pontiff's soul and for this period of transition for the Catholic Church. May He rest in peace.”
The leaders of both Republican-majority chambers of Congress remarked on Francis’s death.
“Today, our prayers are with all those mourning the passing of Pope Francis. As the leader of the Catholic Church, he impacted the lives of countless people across the globe. May he rest in peace,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wrote in a post on X.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said the pope will be remembered for his humility and compassion.
“Pope Francis led a life of faithful witness to the Gospel,” Thune wrote on X. “He dedicated himself to spreading the Good News with joy, and he will be remembered as a humble servant of God and a man of great compassion for those in need. May he rest in peace and receive his reward.”
The pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936, broke barriers in the Catholic Church when he became the first leader of Vatican City to hail from the Americas, and the first to represent the Jesuit order, an intellectual wing of the church that prioritizes philanthropy.
Known as “the People’s Pope,” Francis advocated for social justice, human rights and global equality. He also broke traditions and humbled himself by rejecting ornate parts of the papacy, dressing simply and living in the Vatican City guesthouse instead of the traditional Apostolic Palace. He would also venture off grounds and wash the feet of prisoners, refugees, women, people with disabilities and Muslims.
Democratic leaders highlighted Francis’s compassion and gestures of humility in statements marking his death.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is Jewish, said in a statement that Francis’s “message of hope inspired people around the world - people of all faiths.”
“His compassion and love for the less fortunate was felt in every corner. His papacy will be remembered as a beacon of light and hope against the darkness. My prayers are with the billions of people today who are mourning his loss,” Schumer added.
Houser Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) noted Francis’s “historic tenure” and said the pope “dedicated his time on Earth to uplifting the least, the lost and the left behind,” adding, “His Holiness truly embodied the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, humbly giving of himself to the poor, the Church and Catholics in all corners of the world.”
Jeffries said it was “a tremendous honor” to attend Francis’s historic address to Congress, saying the pope “brought together a triumphant, bipartisan joint session of Congress to recognize that each and every one of us has a role to play in caring for people and the planet.”
“While the entire world mourns this tremendous loss, may those in the Catholic Church and all who admired Pope Francis take comfort knowing that his moral, visionary and groundbreaking legacy will live on,” Jeffries added.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), a devout Catholic, said Francis’s death “personally” is “devastating.” She lionized Francis, portraying him as the perfect embodiment of the gospel of Matthew, which urges charity for those most in need.
“He reminded us of our inescapable duty to those struggling to escape poverty and persecution in our communities and around the world,” Pelosi wrote in a statement.
“Perhaps his most distinctive leadership will be his historic commitment to addressing the climate crisis,” she continued, noting the pope wrote “with beauty and clarity, with moral force and fierce urgency to call on all of us to be good stewards of God’s Creation.”
Former President Biden, also a devout Catholic, joined others in mourning Francis’s death, calling the late pontiff “a light of faith, hope and love.”
“He was unlike any who came before him,” Biden wrote in a post on X. “Above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the People’s Pope — a light of faith, hope and love.”
Former President Obama called Francis “the rare leader who made us want to be better people,” in a post on the social platform X after the pope's death.
“In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound – embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners – he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another,” Obama continued.